After more than a year without scoring at club level, Evan Ferguson needed a mere four minutes off the bench to finally announce himself at AS Roma, with his goal on Sunday helping to fire his side to the top of the Serie A standings.

Roma led 1-0 at Cremonese when Ferguson appeared on the hour mark, and after Neil El Aynaoui’s pass found the unmarked Irishman in the area, he calmly took a touch before guiding his shot round the keeper into the corner of the net.

“It’s a beautiful moment that I’d been waiting for for a long time,” Ferguson told broadcaster DAZN.

“There have been many ups and downs but now I want to make the most of this positive moment. I want to continue like this.”

Ferguson’s last club goal came in October 2024 for Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League, and his current loan move looked to be heading in much the same direction as his previous one.

Struggling for game time at Brighton, Ferguson joined West Ham United in February, but eight goalless appearances did little to restore confidence or silence critics.

Throughout his club struggles, Ferguson had continued to shine for Ireland, scoring five times since that last goal for Brighton, but an ankle injury ruled him out of the most recent international fixtures.

A week ago, Ferguson watched on from an Irish pub in Rome while Troy Parrott’s hat-trick against Hungary booked Ireland a spot in the World Cup playoffs.

Ferguson missed Roma’s last three games, and manager Gian Piero Gasperini was not about to risk him from the start against Cremonese.

“He has recovered from the ankle, but isn’t completely well and there’s still some pain,” Gasperini told reporters on Saturday.

“But he has great determination, a strong desire to play.”

Ferguson, who had another goal ruled out late on in Roma’s 3-1 win, showed that desire in spades and held his finger to his lips as he reeled away after scoring before getting mobbed by his teammates and the Roma substitutes.

“We are all happy for Ferguson, as he had been waiting for this a long time,” Gasperini told DAZN when asked about the celebrations.

Ferguson is the first Irishman to score in Serie A since Liam Brady for Inter Milan against Torino in 1985, and 40 years on, the 21-year-old will hope to repeat Brady’s achievements in Italy where he won two league titles with Juventus.

Troy Parrott continued his stunning scoring spree as he pulled one back for AZ Alkmaar in the 75th minute of their 3-1 loss away to SC Heerenveen.

Parrott has now scored 19 goals in 19 games this season and next up for AZ is a home match against Shelbourne in the Conference League on Thursday. 

Also on Sunday, two goals from Tyrese Campbell and one from substitute Tom Cannon gave Sheffield United a 3-0 derby victory over their arch-rivals Sheffield Wednesday in a match they dominated.

Campbell struck in either half with Cannon adding a third in time added on, giving United, who were missing the injured Chiedozie Ogbene, only their fourth win of the season.

Cannon rounded off the scoring with a well-taken goal in time added on, firing a shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. It was only Cannon’s second goal in 30 appearances for the Blades.

Elsewhere Cardiff boss Brian Barry-Murphy was pleased his team showed a ‘different side’ to their game after they moved top of League One with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Northampton.

The Cork native said: “It’s really pleasing and I’m delighted for our supporters because they’ve travelled a lot over the last few weeks and they can enjoy a magnificent victory.

“We had to show we had the mentality and ability to come to a place like this and play against a very effective Northampton team and get a result and the lads showed a commendable attitude.”

Meanwhile on Saturday, Southampton continued their excellent form under interim manager Tonda Eckert in the Championship as they thrashed Charlton 5-1 at The Valley, with Finn Azaz scoring twice while Ryan Manning also netted.

Azaz collected a first-half brace with Manning, Adam Armstrong and Casper Jander also scoring in a dream opening 45 minutes for the Saints, who have won all three matches since the German coach replaced Will Still earlier this month.

Azaz turned provider for the opening goal after 14 minutes, supplying the cross for his fellow country-man Manning to power a header home from a few yards out.

Armstrong was once again the architect for Southampton’s fourth goal in the 22nd minute. His deft touch was collected by Azaz, who clinically breezed past Kaminski to tap home before the playmaker pounced again with a simple finish, touching the ball in after just 43 minutes.

Also on Saturday, Championship leaders Coventry came from two goals behind to beat 10-man West Brom 3-2 in a thriller at the CBS Arena.

Aune Heggebo’s brace put the visitors two goals ahead – both created by Ireland international Mikey Johnston – but Josh Eccles halved the deficit before the break.

And after Jayson Molumby had been sent off four minutes into the second half, Ellis Simms and Victor Torp were on target to make it nine wins in 10 for Frank Lampard’s side.